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Why are you chasing your dreams?

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When I meet clients to discuss their business ideas or projects, I always start the conversation with questions that lead me to find out why they’re doing it. Why are they putting all of their time, energy and focus into chasing their dreams? It seems like a simple enough question, but quite often, people have a difficult time answering. Let me rephrase that, quite often people have a difficult time answering truthfully. You see, it’s easy to make decisions in different areas of our life for all of the wrong reasons. We choose schools and educational paths that mom and dad think are best. We dive into a career because of the social status we’ll attain by walking in those shoes. We launch businesses ventures because we’re told there’s an excellent opportunity to make income and live the life of our dreams. But in the end, are any of those…

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Self-Care

Burnout

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Chronic colds. A “general feeling of unwell.” TBI. SIBO. Adrenal Fatigue. Maybe they are the answer. Maybe they’ll finally explain the brain fog, the fatigue, the reason why my sparkle is slipping between my fingers. Or maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe, the diagnosis is not the problem or even the answer. But maybe it’s a sign. Actually, let’s call it a not-so-divine warning. When was the last time you tweaked your back, and you went directly to the couch to lay down? Or you got a headache from, oh, I don’t know, too much screen time. Did you immediately shut down your laptop or did you pop an Advil and go back to work? We are not listening to our bodies. We are not heeding the very clear warning signs. At least not before it is too late. And why?! All in the name of the goddamn hustle? How have…

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Career

Clean your damn lens

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Imagine walking into an auditorium with hundreds of people to learn about taking better photographs with your smartphone. You hope to walk away with all kinds of tools tucked into your belt so you can tackle social media like a wizard or simply capture some of life’s greatest moments with a new feature or function. Everyone sits.  The speaker arrives. The room gets quiet. The first words out of his mouth are (and of course I am paraphrasing)… For the love of all that is good, clean your damn lens before you take a picture! Now, it would seem odd to say that this moment changed the way I take pictures, but that day, at  Adobe MAX- The Creativity Conference in sunny San Diego California, that itty bitty piece of information was worth the long trek all on its own. (Thanks team Paleoethics for the opportunity.) How many times a day…

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Career

3 Things a small business strategist can do for you

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If you’re reading this, you likely have an existing business that needs some attention to take it to the next level or a great business idea that hasn’t quite come to life. It’s not uncommon to fall into a bit of a creative slump and find yourself at a crossroads with your ideas after your initial excitement. You may be lacking motivation, or perhaps you have run out of ideas to help you grow. That’s when working with a small business strategist can be helpful. If you are not sold on the idea that paying someone to help you declutter the space in your brain that allows your creativity to flow, here are a few things to consider: 1. They keep you focused Your ideas are great. They are, I promise! But sometimes a creative genius like you gets carried away and staying on course becomes difficult. One minute you are…

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Business

Why You NEED to Send a Customized Card This Holiday Season

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I know it feels too early even to be thinking about holiday cards, but trust me, the next month and a half is going to sneak right by us. Before we know it, it’ll be December 8, and we’ll decide to skip the holiday card this year because we don’t have time to put something together to arrive before the holidays are over. Here’s why you shouldn’t wait to get your holiday cards ready. Networking It’s an excellent opportunity to subtly remind your friends, family, colleagues and customers of your existence. There is no easier way to remain top of mind than sending them warm wishes this season with a card tailored with your branding. This is especially true for those contacts you don’t get a chance to see very often. It’s also a great way for families to keep in touch with loved ones far away. You can say…

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Career

Slowing my Scroll: How I’m Learning to Balance Online with Off

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I love the Internet. Give me a cell phone with the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter apps, and I’ll get lost for four hours (#jokingnotjoking). Do you need to know the full (and rather brief) discography of Sugar Jones? Look it up. Do you need to find out what a burst ear drum looks like (I had no idea and I’m 35)? Look it up. Do you need to understand how Keyboard Cat came to be? You do. Look it up. In fact, the first time I spoke to my boyfriend-now-husband was on ICQ (I hyperlinked that for you sweet, young things). We were in high school in the early 2000s, okay? So, basically, without the Internet, my children’s lives would never have been realized. I know, slightly dramatic. And, as much as I love the instantaneous pleasure of finding an answer several seconds after asking a question, the Internet, of…

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Career

I’m A Big Catch!

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The secret is finally out! Well, I suppose it wasn’t much of a mystery. I’ve been talking about the ladies over at Big Catch Communications for weeks now, and so anyone with a brain could have probably figured out that this was happening. Either way, it’s great to finally be able to talk about my new role with this talented team! There are so many reasons to get excited about this new adventure. They have so many diverse projects on the go at one time, creativity and thinking outside the box is highly encouraged, and every team member has a unique skill set. It’s incredible to see the conversations coming from one end of the studio to the next. What really stood out to me is how direct they are with their thoughts and opinions. What a breath of fresh air to see a group of intelligent and strong women…

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Career

Living Without Regrets

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On March 15, 2018, I said goodbye to Canada and moved to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is nestled between Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Gulf which sounds super scary, but is paradoxically, incredibly safe.  Abu Dhabi is also extravagantly wealthy, a glittering jewel in the heat of the desert. Even with oil prices down, there is still no income tax which means you can save loads of cash (assuming you don’t get sucked into the spending vortex that so many do). For those of us with the travel itch, Africa, Europe, India, and South East Asia are all a few hours away, so it’s also an ideal home base. As for the weather, while the summers are oppressively hot and muggy (high 40s with high humidity), the rest of the year is warm and sunny.  By warm and sunny, I…

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Career

Little Fish, Big Pond!

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It’s been ten weeks since I left the comfort of regular work. Walking in at 9 am and wrapping it up by 5 pm. The usual grind and what most find to be the easiest to manage when it comes to scheduling and of course budgeting. But as all of you know, it wasn’t working for me. I needed a change, and so I walked away from it all in hopes that shortly I would find my place and begin working a little more independently and creatively. I immediately started living the barista life over at Love Love Food a couple of shifts per week while I got it all figured out. Tony was able to use some of my skills to help get his new shop organized, and so I’ve spent some time working behind the scenes too. This work helped him out after the big move, and it allowed…

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Career

How do you measure success?

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It’s 8:41 am. I’ve taken the time to read. I made a nutritious breakfast. (Not a smoothie bowl. OMG. What a disaster that was yesterday.) And now I’m sitting at the kitchen table writing. I wish I could be sitting in my office upstairs, but the wifi has been wonky for the last week, and I can’t stand it when it cuts in and out. I swear the rain affects the signal or transmitters or whatever connection lasers thingies are flying through the air to connect me to everyone. So, until I can figure out what’s going on, the kitchen table is where I’ll be working. It’s been one week since my last day at the office, and while this week isn’t a good representation of what my future holds, it’s been a strange and welcomed change. No more are the days of the 9-5 grind, but suddenly, I need…

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